v2.3.0.15
Bank indebtedness
9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2011
Short Term Debt Disclosure Abstract 
Short Term Debt Text Block

8. Bank indebtedness

    October 1, 2011January 1, 2011
    $$
      
Canadian line of credit facility (a) - -
U.S. line of credit facility (b) 50,334 41,790
Opta Minerals Canadian line of credit facility (c) 9,372 3,546
TOC line of credit facilities (d) 48,007 30,574
     107,713 75,910

(a)        Canadian line of credit facility:

 

The Company has a Canadian line of credit of Cdn $5,000 (U.S. $4,770). As at October 1, 2011, Cdn $1,817 (U.S.$1,733) (January 1, 2011$nil) of this facility was utilized, representing Cdn $1,817 (U.S.$1,733) (January 1, 2011$nil) committed through letters of credit. Interest on borrowings under this facility accrues at the borrower's option based on various reference rates including Canadian or U.S. bank prime, or Canadian bankers' acceptances, plus a margin based on certain financial ratios. At October 1, 2011, the interest rate on this facility was 5.50% (January 1, 2011 5.00%), calculated as Canadian prime plus a premium of 2.50%. The maximum availability of this line is based on a borrowing base which includes certain accounts receivables and inventories of the Company's Canadian business as defined in the Credit Agreement. At October 1, 2011, the borrowing base supported draws to $4,770. At October 1, 2011, the Company incurs standby fees equal to 0.75% of the undrawn balances on this facility in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)        U.S. line of credit facility:

 

The Company has a U.S. line of credit of $100,000. As at October 1, 2011, $59,308 (January 1, 2011$44,254) of this facility was utilized, including $8,974 (January 1, 2011$2,464) committed through letters of credit. Interest on borrowings under this facility accrues at the borrower's option based on various reference rates including U.S. bank prime, or U.S. LIBOR, plus a margin based on certain financial ratios. At October 1, 2011, the weighted average interest rate on this facility was 3.74% (January 1, 20113.26%), based on LIBOR plus a premium of 3.50%. The maximum availability of this line is based on the borrowing base which includes certain accounts receivables and inventories of the Company's U.S. business as defined in the Credit Agreement. At October 1, 2011, the borrowing base supported draws to $100,000. At October 1, 2011, the Company incurs standby fees equal to 0.75% of the undrawn balances on this facility in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

The Canadian and U.S. line of credit facilities as well as certain long-term debt balances (note 9) are collateralized by a first priority security interest on substantially all of the Company's assets in Canada and the United States, excluding the assets of Opta Minerals and The Organic Corporation.

 

The Company is required to comply with certain financial covenants, which are measured against on a quarterly basis. See note 9 for a discussion of the Company's compliance with respect to these covenants.

 

(c)        Opta Minerals Canadian line of credit facility:

 

Opta Minerals has a line of credit facility of Cdn $15,000 (U.S. $14,526). At September 30, 2011, Cdn $10,852 (U.S. - $10,509) (January 1, 2011 - Cdn $4,713 (U.S. $4,712)) of this facility has been utilized, including letters of credit in the amount of Cdn $1,174 (U.S. - $1,137) (January 1, 2011 - Cdn $1,166 (U.S. $1,166)). Interest on borrowings under this facility accrues at the borrower's option based on various reference rates including prime, U.S. dollar base rate, bankers' acceptances or LIBOR plus a margin based on certain financial ratios of the Company. At September 30, 2011, the weighted average interest rate on this facility was 5.45% (January 1, 20116.93%).

 

Opta Minerals' line of credit facility, along with its unused portion of the revolving acquisition facility (note 9(d)), is subject to annual extensions, and were extended on June 2, 2011 to August 15, 2012. 

 

(d)       TOC line of credit facilities:

 

The Organic Corporation (“TOC”) has a line of credit facility of € 35,000 (U.S.$46,886). On July 4, 2011, the banking agreement that includes this credit facility was modified to increase the availability by up to €11,000 (U.S. - $14,736) to fund operations. Borrowings under the modified facility are secured through a letter of credit drawn on the Company's U.S. line of credit facility. On July 8, 2011, the Company provided a letter of credit in the amount of €5,000 (U.S. - $6,698). At October 1, 2011, € 36,530 (U.S. - $48,936) (January 1, 2011€ 22,589 (U.S. $30,249)) of this facility had been utilized, including letters of credit in the amount of € 1,846 (U.S. $2,473) (January 1, 2011€ 181 (U.S. $243)). Interest on borrowings under these facilities accrues at the borrower's option based on various reference rates including U.S. LIBOR and Euro LIBOR plus a premium of 1.85%. At October 1, 2011, the weighted average interest rate on these facilities was 3.21%. The maximum availability of this line is based on a borrowing base which includes certain accounts receivables and inventories of TOC and its subsidiaries. At October 1, 2011, the borrowing base securing this facility supported draws to € 35,000 (U.S. $46,886) (January 1, 2011 - € 22,938 (U.S. $30,716)).

 

In the first quarter of 2011, a wholly owned subsidiary of TOC entered into a line of credit facility with capacity of € 5,000 (U.S.$6,698). As at October 1, 2011, this line is guaranteed through a $1,200 letter of credit issued by the Company on its U.S. line of credit facility. As at October 1, 2011, € 743 (U.S.$995) of this facility had been used. Interest on borrowings under this facility accrues at the Chinese central bank's interest rate, as published by the People's Bank of China, multiplied by 125%, or 8.20% at October 1, 2011.

 

A less-than-wholly owned subsidiary of TOC has line of credit facilities with availability of $1,792 (January 1, 2011$1,297) which are fully guaranteed by TOC. As at October 1, 2011, $549 (January 1, 2011$568) of these facilities had been used. Interest on borrowings under these facilities accrues at either a base rate of 0.4% plus a premium of 6.00%, or a fixed rate of 9.75%. At October 1, 2011, the weighted average interest rate on these facilities was 6.3% (January 1, 20119.8%) and TOC is in compliance with all material requirements under this facility.